Corset.



C. LEO.

CORSET.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 25. 1914.

1 02,295 Patented; Oct. 24, 1916.

Specification of Letters I'atent.-

. Patented Oct. 24, 1916.

Application filed September 25, 1914. Serial No. 888,585.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CONCE'I'IA Lao, a subject of the King of Italy residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Corsets, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like reference characters on the drawings indicating like parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to corsets and particularly to a corset desi ed to be worn during and immediately a er pregnancy. The object of the present invention is to provide a corset which may be used in maternity cases where a combined corset and abdominal supporter are desired, which will permit without injurious pressure the increase in size of the abdomen of the wearer, and the expansion of the lower ribs.

Hitherto various constructions have been employed to meet the conditions of. preg- .nancy. It has been customary, for example,

to insert elastic gores and strips in various locations, but so far as I am aware these gores and strips have been of comparatively small width and located at the sides or the lower part of the garment. too, have commonly possessed the undesirable feature that a row of fastening devices composed in whole or in part of more or less inelastic materials, such as metal, has extended down the front of the corset whereby localized pressure has been produced on the front of the body of the wearer.

The improved corset of the present invention is made with several inelastic sections arranged to engage the back and sides of the wearer and with a wide section of elastic webbing which extends from top to bottom of the garment and supports the front of the body. Moreover, the means for fastening the ends of the corset whereby it may be taken off and put on is itself elastic and is located well to one side of the front central line of the body of the wearer.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings: Figure l is a perspective of a corset which has beenunfastened and spread out, and Fig. 2 is a perspective of the corset showing the ends fastened together.

The illustrated corset is composed of five sections 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9, of which the first four may be of any suitable inelastic fabric. linto these inelastic sections may be ,stitched short, weak stays, which terminate These corsets,

as indicated (see dotted line 10) at a considerable distance from the lower edge of the corset. These inelastic sections 1, 3, 5 and 7 have eyelet holes near their edges and are fastened together by individual lacing strlngs 11, 13 and 15 so as to permit adjustment in accordance with the size of the wearer. The two strings 11 and 15 by which the two side sections are attached toithe two back sections are preferably themselves elastic to permit added freedom of movement of the wearer. I

Stitched to that edge of the section 7 which is remote from the lacing string 15 is the elastic section 9. It. should be noted that this is the only elastic section, that it is of considerable width and that it extends from top to bottom of the corset. When the garment is being worn, the elastic secportion of the pubic region. From this point it extends upwardly between or over the spinesof the ilium and over the central portions of the umbilical and epigastric regions. A firm, even support is thus provided for these regions and at the same time expansion is permitted. The stifi fastenings of the ordinary corset, which lie over these regions, not only cause discomfort to the wearer but are liable to produce injurious pressure upon the fetus or the organs of the body. With my improved corset such discomfort and liability to injury are avoided by locating the row of fastenings well to one side of the front central line of the body of the wearer and by dispensing with the usual stiff fastening devices. As Will be seen a series of elastic tabs 17 are stitched or otherwise fastened to the free edge of the elastic section 9, said tabs having button holes to receive buttons 19 sewed to the free edge of the inelastic section 1. When the garment is being worn the medial vertical line of theelastic section registers with the medial vertical line of the front of the body of the wearer, and the row of fastening devices, as has been explained is well to one side. The lower margin of the elastic section 9 is strengthened by an elastic band 21. During pregnancy of course the lacing strings 11, 13 and 15 will be loosened as becomes desirable, ,but all the time a firm steady support will be provided for the front of the body by the elastic section 9.

After confinement the corset may be worn instead of the usual abdominal bandage and tion with its lower portion covers the upper f Will aid in restoring the body to its normal state. If desired a piece of ornamental lace 23 may be stitched to the upper edge of the garment but in such a manner as not to interfere with the elasticity of the upper portion of the section 9.

Although the invention has been described in connection with a particular construction, it .should be unders odthat this has not been done by Way of imitation and that the scope of the invention is determined by the 2 ap ended claim.

aving thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

A maternity corset having in combination a plurality of sections, the front end section consisting of elastic fabric adapted to extend from the region of the breasts over substantially the entire epigastric and umbilical regions of the wearer, elastic lacings connecting four of said sections and adapted to extend up the sides of the body of the wearer, a row of elastic tabs extending from the edge of the elastic section, said tabs being provided with buttonholes, and a row of buttons on the edge of theother end section over which said tabs may be buttoned.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CONCETTA LEO.

Witnesses:

FRANCIS N. CICCONE, SAMUEL L. BAILEN. 

